The Tunturi T20 Treadmill Review -- A decent treadmill...at half the price

Ohiyo Gozaimasu!

I regret to inform you, my loyal readers, that tonight's review will be an unfortunately short one. We have family in town and Mrs. Sensei is making me close the DOJO early to spend time with them. At least I'll get to gloat to her Uncle Chris a bit more about his poor choice in treadmill purchase. Now, on with the review!

Earlier today the DOJO received in a batch of Tuntui T20 Folding Treadmills for repair. The units were all damaged in shipping but the sales company would still like to be able to sell them as remanufactured units instead of consigning them to the treadmill graveyard. That's where the masters of the DOJO come in. We're treadmill buddhists -- we believe that every treadmill will be reincarnated after death and gain new life once more. Luckily, the damage wasn't too extensive and we'll be able to turn the Tunturi T20 units around in a few days.

In my 20 years of service I've worked on a lot of Tunturi machines. The T20 itself is the bottom unit in the Tunturi T line of treadmills. Tunturi, a Finnish based company, once produced their units in Europe, but I believe they have switched most of their manufacturing over to Asia to save money. From what I've heard they produce the parts in Finland and construct the units in Asia.

Just so you don't think I have a thing against Europeans in general or Tunturi in specific, I am going to start with the good things.

Tuntui makes very solid, very reliable, very basic machines. They don't do much, but what they do they do well. When you get on a Tunturi T20 treadmill (or any of its bigger brothers) you'll find yourself on a sturdy machine with very few maintenance problems at all. You also get a pretty decent warranty on the Tunturi T20 treadmill -- 5 years for parts and 1 year for labor. Not bad at all. Finally, the speed and incline contols on the hand grips are great. The Tunturi T20 Treadmill lets you adjust your speed and incline with the touch of a button and without making you reach for the console itself. Nice touch. The machine also has a good sized 2.5 horsepower motor and hefty 3 inch rollers.

The downside to this machine is you don't get much at all for the high cost of the machine.It has a basic 54x20 inch deck and is only rated for users up to 300 pounds. Nothing really stands out and, unfortunately, for a nearly $1800 machine it needs something to make it stand apart from the crowd. There are just no outstanding features that scream out to a user to buy it. Even the treadmill and console designs are very rudimentary and almost feel like prototype designs more than completed ones. Overall the Tunturi T20 Treadmill is a very basic and very boring treadmill at too high of a price point to be worth even considering.

If you're an accountant in need of a boring, unthreatening treadmill and a lot of money to waste, then the Tunturi T20 treadmill is probably just what the doctor ordered. However, if you're looking to get the most treadmill bang for your dollar, you're going to want to look elsewhere.

For being very drab and unexciting, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Tunturi T20 Treadmill 2.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

The Treadmill sensei gives Tuntari's T20 folding treadmill a 2.5 out of 5.

The T20 Treadmill by Tunturi

Tunturi T20 Treadmill Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes
Horsepower: 2.5 HP
Frame Construction: Steel
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
Folding: Yes
Maximum Speed: 12.5 MPH
Maximum Incline: 12%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip and Polar telemetry compatible
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: Manual and 10 user profiles
Display Type: Graphic display
Display Readouts: Time, distance, speed, elevation, energy consumption, and heart rate
Special Features: 300 lb. user weight capacity
Grade: Residential

Dimensions
Product Size: 75"L x 34"W x 57"H
Folded Size: 32"L x 24"W x 73"H
Product Weight: 218 lbs.
Roller Size: 3"
Deck Thickness: 0.8"

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Tony Little Gazelle Review -- Worst workout ever!

Nihango once more, students of the Sensei.

Tonight we're going to go about as long as we can in the realm of fitness equipment. That's right, I'm going to talk about the elliptical's retard half-brother, Tony Little's Gazelle -- the Gazelle Edge, the Gazelle Power Plus and the Gazelle Freestyle.

The Sensei is going to be completely upfront on this one: the Tony Little Gazelle is one of the worst pieces of "fitness equipment" on the market. The units are poorly made, cheaply constructed and a complete waste of money. In my opinion they aren't even worth being given one for free. And, because of their poor construction, there are probably more Tony Little Gazelles in most public landfills than real garbage.

Yes, yes, I know the late night infomercials make the thing look great, and you ladies find Tony Little cute in that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs sort of way, but resist his charms. His machine has no programs, no resistance levels and is flimsy at best. The "higher end" (saying that in relation to the Tony Little Gazelle makes me cringe) Gazelle units have simple hydraullic pistons for adding some resistance. From our brief testings here at the DOJO we've found those pistons to break down after very light usage. Hydraullics can be troublesome in commercial machines and are absolutely dreadful in the Gazelle.

Another annoyance during a workout comes from the Tony Little Gazelle's lack of substance. When you get going on it, the machine tends to slide across a non carpeted floor. It is also a very noisy machine. The harder your workout is, the louder the machine gets.

The Gazelle is NOT an elliptical. It has similar mechanics but the motion is very different. Also, due to the Tony Little Gazelle's mechanics, you're not really getting an elliptical workout when you're on it. Momentum has a lot more to do with your movement than muscle power. Once you get up to speed it takes almost no effort to keep the machine going. The Gazelle does more to fool you in to thinking you're getting a good workout than actually giving you one.

Finally, the Tony Little Gazelle's footpads. If you have any sort of foot problem at all working out on the Gazelle will feel like hell. They are not comfortable so make sure to wear well padded tennis or workout shoes.

If you absolutely must spend money on a Tony Little Gazelle, here's what I want you to do. Make out a check for $199 to the Treadmill Sensei and mail it to me here at the DOJO. I'll box up an already broken Gazelle for you so you won't have to waste time breaking it yourself. Your other option is to try low end ellipticals such as are made by Stamina, SunFitness or LifeGear. While still not as sturdier as their more expensive brothers, at least they'll give you an ok workout.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Tony Little Gazelle 0 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

The Gazelle gets 0...ah, who cares...

Awww..look at his Little legs go! The Tony Little Freestyle in "action"

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Treadmill Maintenance -- 11 Tips for the care of your treadmill

Ohiyo!!

So, you've spent the weeks you needed to research, try out, choose and purchase your brand new treadmill. You've gotten it assembled and begun your daily workouts...so what now? Well, even the highest end commercial treadmills need a bit of love and affection to keep them purring like a kitten. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to keep your treadmill in tip top shape.

Tip #1
The first thing you are going to want to do is get a good treadmill mat to go underneath your unit. Despite what you think, a treadmill mat isn't as much for protecting your floor as for protecting your treadmill. You see, a treadmill's motor builds up a huge static charge as you work out. The charge will suck dust, lint and debris into your motor, causing it to clog and run inefficiently. The more gunk in your motor the worse it will run and the shorter its lifespan will be. Sliding a nice treadmill mat underneath your equipment will help reduce that static and the amount of stuff getting sucked up in it. As a bonus, you'll also be protecting your floor and carpet. Watch out for cheap mats, tho. If you pick up a budget treadmill mat you run the risk of having it stain your hardwood floor or stick to your carpet. Supermat is a great brand of treadmill mat and can be purchased for as low as $35.

Tip #2
Sticking with dust and dirt, make sure to dust/clean your treadmill once every other week. Take special care with the belt area as any build up should be cleaned off right away or you'll risk reduced performance.

Tip #3
I know it's going to sound over obvious, but make sure to keep your power cord well away from the base of the unit and the incline mechanism. You have no idea how many cords we end up replacing on our service calls.

Tip #4
If you find your belt slipping, it may be because the belt tracking is off. You can adjust your tracking the same way you make sure the belt is properly aligned, with the alignment screws at the rear of your treadmill. An allen wrench is all you need. A quick quarter clockwise turn should tighten everything back up. Make sure never to turn either side more than a quarter turn at any given time because you the adjustments levels are very fine. Keeping your belt aligned will reduce the load on you treadbelt and belt guides. Check out your owner's manual for more information.

Tip #5
A lot of times the cause of miss aligned on a treadbelt is from the unit not being level. Make sure to get your treadmill level.

Tip #6
Unless specifically isntructed by your owner's manual, do not use silicone or oils to lubricate your treadmill's deck. A clean, dry, dust-free bed and belt combination is ideal for a long-lasting treadmill. If your manual recommends the use of a silicone spray for lubrication, make sure to precisely follow application and scheduling instructions. Some treadmill decks may require initial waxing to help reduce friction with the belt. Do not wax a deck unless recommended by the manufacturer. Lubrication to pretreated wax decks may interfere with the wax.

Tip #7
The lowest level of friction between your belt and deck is desired. If the amount of friction is too high, you'll end up with damage and wear to both your motor and your year. The best way to judge a low friction belt is that it will slide when the power is off and you can manually walk the belt when the treadmill is powered down. Improper lubrication can lead to overworking your motor.

Tip #8
One of the main problems on most treadmills (home and commercial) is in the control board. As with any computer, the treadmill's control board is subject to power surges, improper grounding and so on. The best way to protect your treadmill's computer brain is to unplug it when not in use and use a grounded plug when powered on.

Tip #9
Read your user's manual. I know, I know..."who really reads those darn things?" Well, you should. Just about everything you need to know will be found in that little book that came with your treadmill. Pop it open while you're in the bathroom for a good read.

Tip #10
Never operate your treadmill while wet. Bad idea for so many reasons.

Tip #11
Last but not least, if you are having trouble with your treadmill and need it fixed...then call the Treadmill Sensei! That's what we do! (Ok, so it's a shameless plug...but it's my website so nyah).

Anyway, a few simple steps and you'll be able to take care of your treadmill so it can continue to help take care of you for years to come.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Tunturi C60 Elliptical Review -- Built like a tank and just about as comfortable

Ohiyo!

Today has been a very long, very hot day, so I've just got a quick review for you before the Sensei heads off to a well-deserved sleep. This time around we've got an offering from the great-white north (Canada) for all of you elliptical buyers in the Tunturi C60 Elliptical.

To start off, the Tunturi C60 is a fairly new unit, it replaced the Tunturic C6 Elliptical back at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, Tunturi did very little to fix the problems with the old C6 Elliptical in its newest incarnation.

The Tunturi C60 Elliptical was built very sturdy but with little thought to comfort. In addition to having some of the least comfortable pedals in the industry -- they are static pedals mounted directly to the elliptical path bars (which means your circulation will be limited and there is a good chance of your feet falling asleep during longer workouts) -- most people will find they bump their knees and legs in to the awkwardly mounted water bottle holder on the front of the machine. What Tunturi was thinking with the placement of the water bottle was beyond me. Just looking at it from a distance you can tell there will be trouble.

The C60 has 16 programs, but only 4 levels of resistance. It has wireless heart rate monitoring, but only a 17 inch stride. The LED monitor is decent, but not overly impressive. In fact, that's probably the best way to describe the Tunturi C60 Elliptical -- decent but unimpressive.

In short, if you're looking for an uncomfortable, barely passable machine, then the Tunturi C60 Elliptical is probably for you. However, if you're looking for a well designed machine that will make you want to work out on it, you best look elsewhere.

In final, I would like to disclose my own history and experience with Tunturi Ellipticals. My wife was given one by her boss as a gift last year (he gave them away to his entire staff for some ungodly reason). My beloved worked out on the unit about 4 times before it became a very large piece of modern art for her to hang her discarded clothing upon. I eventually yanked it out of our bedroom and it now resides in the flower garden we've built back behind the DOJO.

So, this time, I give the Tunturi C60 Elliptical 2.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5. It's not even significant enough to hate. You can find the C60 Ellipticals for around $1399 with free shipping at most places online.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Tunturi C60 Elliptical 2.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs

The Tunturi C60 in all its glory.

Tunturi C60 Elliptical Trainer Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes
Frame Construction: Steel
Dual Action: Yes
Stride Length: 17"
Bi-Directional: Yes
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
Belt Drive: Poly V-belt
Resistance Type: Magnetic
Resistance Control: Electronic
Resistance Levels: 4
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip and Polar wireless telemetry (Strap included.)
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 8 preset profiles and 8 user profiles
Display Type: LED with dot matrix display
Display Readouts: Profiles, time, number of steps, energy consumption, step rate, heart rate, and effort
Power Requirements: 115 / 230 v
Assembly Tools: Included
Included Accessories: Bottle holder and heart rate monitor strap
Special Features: Wireless Polar telemetry heart rate monitoring strap comes standard
Grade: Residential
Made In: Taiwan

Dimensions
Product Size: 58"L x 24.5"W x 62"H
Product Weight: 159 lbs.
Flywheel Weight: 44 lbs.
Pedal Spacing: 6" - 7"
Shipping Size: 52"L x 18"W x 28"H
Shipping Weight: 223 lbs.

Warranty
Parts Warranty: 3 year
Labor Warranty: 1 year

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Matrix T3X Treadmill Review -- The Lexus of Treadmills (aka the Matrix MX T3Xi Treadmill)

Moshi Moshi!

Recently I mentioned that my assistant, the legendary Hikaru, had fallen asleep on a Matrix T3X treadmill. Since then I've had a number of you ask me for more information on that Matrix treadmill unit. Unfortunately, the Matrix T3X Treadmill (and its almost identical twin, the Matrix T3Xi treadmill) is one of those wonderful little secrets of the fitness industry. In fact, if I had to pick the perfect higher end commercial treadmill it would be the Matrix T3X treadmill. It really is that darn good.

Matrix is the commercial fitness branch owned by Johnson Tech -- at last count, they are something like the 4th or 5th largest fitness company in the US. You may be familiar with Johnson Tech as the parent company of the Horizon Fitness line. As with the Horizon home units, the Matrix line continues Johnson Tech's excellent design and production record. Although they are still trying to find there place in the market, a large number of gyms and fitness centers have begun the conversion over to Matrix treadmills (and their equally awesome Matrix E5X ellipticals).

Let's start out with what Johnson Tech is best known for, their motors. The Matrix T3X treadmill comes with a beefy, bad boy of a 3.2 horsepower motor...and when Johnson Tech rates a motor at 3.2 horsepower, you can be assured you are getting 3.2 horsepower. The motor on the year old Matrix T3X we have in the shop is still as powerful and consistant as the first day it came in. The car buffs in our repair group often joke that Johnson Tech loaded the Matrix T3X treadmill with a hemi engine and are always threatening to put wheels on so they can drive it aroudn town.

A great thing about the motor in the Matrix T3X is how amazingly quiet it is. It's no wonder Matrix sells television attachments for these units because you can easily hear a television program over the sound of your workout -- not something you can say about many commercial treadmills.

The deck on the Matrix T3X treadmill is one of the places the machine truly shines. Matrix calls it the "Ultimate Deck" with a little trademark symbol after it. What that means to you is a 1" thick reversible 2-ply deck with hard wax. What that means in layman's terms is a heavy duty deck that is going to last for many years with little to no maintainence. If, through some ungodly amount of running you actually wear the deck down (remember, these machines are rated for 100+ hours a week of usage), you can unfasten the deck and flip it over to use the otherside as a pristine running surface. Speaking of the running surface, the deck on the Matrix T3X is a comfortable 60" x 20" -- more than enough room for even long distrance marathon training.

The Matrix T3X treadmill also comes with all of the little bells and whistles you expect from one of the top end treadmills on the market -- steel frame construction, front end transport wheels, quick start, 8 programs, heart rate control, wireless heart rate monitor, pulse grip sensors, a great 3 year parts and labor warranty, 12 mph speed, 15% incline and a max user weight of 400+ pounds. This machine is built to take any amount of abuse you can throw at it.

And, best of all, it looks really cool. Matrix has really upped its design ante with the Matrix T3X treadmills. They are a great example of form following function and would look fantastic in any home or office setting -- and you should see a line of 10 of these babies lined up in a gym. It makes you feel like you're working out in Star Wars..."Empire Strikes Back" more than, say, "The Phantom Menace."

Sleet, stylish, sturdy and dependable, the Matrix T3X treadmill is built to last. Heck, Hikaru has lost more than 100 pounds on this puppy in a year. He just plain enjoys running on the thing. Prices on a new T3X run about $5795. For class and performance, the Matrix T3X Treadmill earns 5 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

The Sensei gives Matrix T3X 5 out of 5!

Get more information on the Matrix T3X Treadmill. Find the best price online and save an additional 3% with Coupon Code TMSENSEI.

Matrix Fitness T3X Treadmill Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes
Horsepower: 3.2 HP
Frame Construction: Steel
Shock Absorption: Yes, variable compression technology cushions
Maximum Weight Capacity: 400 lbs.
Reversible Deck: Yes, ultimate hard wax design
Maximum Speed: 12 MPH
Maximum Incline: 15%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip and wireless telemetry
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: Manual, intervals, weight loss, fitness test, 5K run, and target heart rate
Display Type: LED
Special Features: Quick start, button and lanyard clip emergency stop

Dimensions
Product Size: 84"L x 34"W x 55"H
Product Weight: 340 lbs.
Step Up Height: 7"
Running Area: 60" x 20"

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Reader Mail: SportsArt 803 Elliptical versus the Sole E35 Elliptical

Ohiyo!

Tonight we're going to answer a piece of reader email that came in earlier today. This one is from Jim and he's got a question for the Sensei:

"Treadmill "Sensei",

After much research including your site, I have come down to two ellipticals at the same price ($1299). First, the Sole Fitness E35, the other is the SportsArt 803. I have seen/tired the 803 but only read abou the E35. Any recommendations?

Most Sincerely, Jim"

Jim:

Thank you for your note. You've actually picked two really good machines. We work on ellipticals every day here at the DOJO and neither one of those brands come in very often -- which is a great sign of quality! Plus, they both have similar 5 year part warranties and decent labor ones as well (1 year on the SportsArt and 2 on the Sole).

The SportsArt units are great for people who have worked out with Precor units at the gyms and want something with a similar feel (although without the "ramp" technology the Precors are famous for). The reason people like the SportsArt ellpticals is because they have a great adjustable stride on them. The downside is they have static pedals so your feet might start to fall asleep during long workouts.

The Soles are great machines all the way around. But, it is tough to purchase something you haven't been on. If you have a Dick's Sporting Good or something similar in the area you might be able to find the Spirit XE150 to try out. It is the exact same unit as the Sole E35 and usually about $200 cheaper because you are cutting out the middle man (Sole buys their machines from Spirit, re-labels and resells them at a mark-up).

So, in a round about way, I'd say if you liked the feel of the SportsArt 803, it is a good, solid machine. However, it might be worth trying to track down a Spirit or Sole locally to try out because they are fantastic, comfortable machines.

Thanks again for your note and I hope I helped...I tend to ramble a bit about the equipment. Take care.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Home Buyers Guide to Choosing an Elliptical Trainer

Ohiyo!

Even in the depths of the DOJO do I hear your cries: "But, Treadmill Sensei, long ago you told us how to properly choose a home treadmill, but when will you share with us your wisdom on picking an elliptical trainer?"

Wonder no more as the Treadmill Sensei has heard your pleas and answer them with his most learned of words. I bring you the:

The Treadmill Sensei's Home Buyers Guide to Choosing an Elliptical Trainer

Over the past few years Elliptical trainers have taken the fitness industry by storm. What was once a fad relegated to late night infomercials is now perhaps the single most dominant piece of equipment at the majority of gyms and personal training centers.

Let's start with the guide by taking a look at the differences between a treadmill and an elliptical trainer. The most immediate thing you're going to notice is that the elliptical is almost entirely impact free. This means you will no longer be subjected to the lower joint pain most associated with running. Even a treadmill with great shock absorbtion and an orthopedic belt, while better than running on pavement, will still abuse your knees and ankles.

On the flip side, a treadmill is much better for targeted training for joggers and runners. You can't really train properly for a marathon on an elliptical. As close as the feel of an elliptical is to walking or running, it's still not as good as actually running.

Now, let's take a look at the "pain" of running. Recent studies have shown people to work out hard and longer on ellipticals because the perceived amount of effort seems to be much less. The more "comfortable" a work out, the longer and hard someone will go. This is one of the main reasons a lot of seniors and older exercisers have taken to the elliptical so readily.

Another glaring difference is the crosstraining arms most ellipticals have (with a few exceptions such as the majority of the Precor elliptical units). With the addition of the crosstraining bars, the elliptical allows you an additional aspect in your work out -- strength training. Almost all fitness experts agree that all proper workouts need a strength training aspect and the elliptical packages it with the cardio training quite nicely.

Let's talk about what to look for in an elliptical trainer. First, which is better, a front wheel or rear wheel elliptical. Truth be told, they both work exactly the same. Anyone who tells you differently is just trying to see you a bill of goods. They give you the exact same workout. The only real difference is if you're a larger person or if you're on a lighter weight (or less sturdy) machine. In this case, the front drives will definitely feel quite a bit sturdier. This is because when you work out on an elliptical, you are throwing all of your weight forward. Having the drive and heavy flywheel up front will help to balance you out. Larger flywheels are better as they tend to last longer and give more sturdiness to a machine.

Most elliptical trainers have magnetic brakes and you don't want to mess with anything else. The old friction based brakes tended to wear out too quickly, so stay away from any dinosaur machines that still use them.

Stride is one of the most important features on an elliptical because they have the most to do with comfort. Longer strides are better on ellipticals -- unless, of course, you're a shorter person, but for most people strides of 18" or longer are best. Personally, I've find 20-21 inch strides to be the best for anyone up to about 6'4". Anything shorter than 18" will be uncomfortable for most people.

Footpads: make sure the unit you are looking at has articulating footpads. The reason for this is because elliptical traininers with static footpads (such as the Tunturi units) can cause your feet to start to go numb on longer work outs. This is from the lack of circulation caused by the static pedals. Looks for footpads that flex with your feet. You'll thank the sensei for it.

Things like programs, heart rate control and personal fans are nice, but the above points are the main things to keep an eye on. Also, try out the feel of the way you mount an elliptical. There are two varieties of mounting -- side mount machines (such as the Precor 546 or Star Trac Rear Drive) and rear mount machines (such as the Matrix E5x or Horizon EX44). Some people have a bit of difficulty on mounting from the side and should look at rear drive options. As with the position of the flywheel, rear-mount versus side-mount ellipticals work exactly the same way.

The best way to pick out an elliptical is to head out to either a gym or local sports retailer and give them a try. Be warned, tho, once you work out on a commercial grade elliptical, it's hard to transition over to a residential grade one. The top of the line commercial ellipticals are by Star Trac, Matrix, Precor and Life Fitness. The top residential grade ellipticals include Horizon, New Balance and Endurance. Fitnex and Spirit / Sole are great mid range brands that do an exellent job of giving commercial quality work outs for not much more than a residential price.

That's it for the Sensei. I shall speak with you all again tomorrow.

UPDATE: Check out my Online Assistant and Elliptical Chooser! It will help you choose the right equipment for your fitness needs.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Proform 1500 Treadmill Review -- You can only polish a turd so much

Ohiyo!

Today is a sad day in the Treadmill Sensei household.

In spite of recommending against it, my wife's uncle (I can no longer claim him as my uncle-in-law) has gone and done the unthinkable. That's right, he headed down to the local CostCo store and bought a Proform Treadmill from Icon Fitness. The ProForm Power Series 1500 TV Treadmill to be exact. He strode in to the work shop chuckling at how he was able to save almost a five hundred dollars the treadmill I advised him to purchase would have cost. Not only did he save a lot of money, my wife's uncle gloats, but the ProForm Power Series 1500 TV Treadmill also comes with an EKG Grip Pulse Sensor, a CoolAir Fan, QuickSpeed and QuickInline controls, a 5 Star Interactive Console, ProShox Cushioning, iFit compatibility and a 7" flat screen TV with built-in speakers. At this point he tossed the user manual over in order for me to see how all of those phrases have a little TM attached them as a guarantee of quality.

I guess no one has told him that a "trademark" symbol isn't an automatic mark of quality. It just means a company has a good copywriter. Chuckling to myself, I tossed the manual back to the poor, deluded fool and reassured him that he had most definitely stuck it to the man while shaking my head thinking to myself, "there will be tears."

What my wife's uncle has fallen pray to is one of the most prevailant cons in the fitness industry today -- cheap, poorly made equipment loaded with "extras" to keep the buyer from noticing they are in fact buying a turkey. The old adage, "you get what you pay for" has never been truer than in treadmill and elliptical buying.

I'm going to start with the positives of the Proform tread are some of the cooler looking low end treadmills. So, if nothing else, once they breakdown after your pathetic 90-day warranty is kaput, you'll have a spiffy looking modern art piece to hang your clothing on.

Anything else? Not really, but if you just don't have the resources to buy something better and can't save up, then at least they are affordable. There are Proform Treadmills down to around $399 in price. If you take good care of them and only use the treadmills a couple of times a week for walking (run on a Proform treadmill at your own risk!), then it should serve you fairly well for a year or two before you'll need to haul it out to the street for your weekly garbage to pick it up. Yard sales are another great way to get rid of your junk if you are desperate.

Have you ever wondered why companies like Proform (well, the manufacturer of Proform Treadmills, Icon Fitness) have such great sounding equipment for as cheap as they do? Two words best explain it: cheap parts. Well, 4 words when you add in: cheap construction. The best indicator of this is going to be the truly dreadful 90 day warranty most Proform Treadmills carry. Getting a 90 day warranty on a remanufactured unit actually makes sense because you're buying a commercial unit and most of the problems will manifest in the first 30 days (generally in the first week). But when you're buying a brand NEW treadmill you want the piece of mind that comes with a real warranty. As I've said before, if a company has faith enough in its product to give you a great warranty (such as the lifetime home warranty on Fitnex Treadmills and Ellipticals, or the similar lifetime warranty given by the Endurance line from Body Solid), then you should have faith in that company.

Moving on to the motor: Proform, when are you going to give us a low RPM motor larger than a soup can? I mean, come on. Cranking up the RPMs to 5000 or more doesn't give a treadmill a true 2.0 or 2.75 horsepower motor. What it does is give a buyer a crappy motor that runs way too hot and breaks down way too fast. I can almost forgive Icon Fitness for the crappy plastic the Proform Treadmills are made out of, but I can never forgive putting in bad motors. The motor is the heart of the machine and needs to be sturdy and hold up to at least an average workout.

Just remember, if you're going to buy a treadmill from Sears, you aren't going to get a great piece of equipment. If you're looking for a quality machine, look elsewhere because Proform may have the marketing, but it doesn't have the goods to meet your needs. Don't skimp on your health just to save a few dollars. There are much better machines, even in the budget price range.

This story does have a happy end, for me at least. You see, the next day I received a call from Uncle Chris. He'd put together his treadmill and not only did his brand new ProForm Power Series 1500 TV Treadmill get a large crack during his first workout, but neither the EKG Grip Pulse Sensor nor the CoolAir Fan seemed to be working. Karma is a bitch, and the Treadmill Sensei gives the Proform 1500 Treadmill 2 golden buddahs out of 5 just for being so darn pretty.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Proform 1500 Treadmill 2 golden buddahs out of 5.


Compare the Proform 1500 TV Treadmill

The Proform 1500 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2.75 HP
Display: 7” flat screen TV with built-in speakers
Programs: 10 preprogrammed workouts, 4 heart rate programs, 2 learn programs
Heart Rate Monitor: EKG grip pulse with optional chest pulse
Running Area: 20" x 60"
Max Speed: 0-12 mph
Max Incline: 0-12%
Max User Weight: 350 lbs
Dimensions: 37.5" x 27.5" x 72.25" (LxWxH)
Weight: 291lbs

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Spirit XE150 Elliptical Review -- Decent Elliptical for Under $1500

Nihongo!

Once more from the depths of the DOJO the Treadmill Sensei appears to hand out pearls of wisdom. We had a visitor in the warehouse today who is also familiar with the treadmillsensei.com. She mentioned that she was interested in an elliptical but $2000 was a bit out of her range and did I have any suggestions for a high quality machine closer to the $1000 price point. After a couple of seconds I came up with what I think is the best value elliptical in the $1000 range, the Spirit XE150 Elliptical . The entire XE series from Spirit Fitness is great, but for around $1199 for the Spirit XE150 Elliptical you get the most bang for your buck.

For the price, the Spirit XE150 is one of the sturdiest ellipticals out there. Rated for users up to 300 pounds the unit feels like a much higher priced commercial elliptical like you'd find in a gym.

Add to that a fantastically comfortable 20" stride -- most units at this price have 16-18 inch strides -- 8 programs, heart rate control, wireless heart rate monitoring, 16 levels of magnetic resistance, fans and the standard great Spirit warranty of 5 years parts and 2 year labor.

Finally, something that is especially well done by Spirit in the XE150 elliptical are the articulating footpads. You may ask yourself why this is so important. My answer for you is a question: have you ever worked out on a bad elliptical? Working out for longer periods (say, 30 to 45 minutes) on a machine with static pedals will cause your feet to fall asleep from the lack of circulation. With the Spirit XE150's articulating footpads, as with the higher priced commercial ellipticals, you don't have to worry about your workout being ruined by poor circulation. You can literally work out all day on these machines and be fine.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit XE150 Elliptical 3.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

UPDATE: This unit has been discontinued and sold out. Check out the Sole E35 Elliptical for a better price and upgraded for 2008 version of the XE150 elliptical by Spirit.

Spirit XE150 Elliptical gets 4 out of 5 Gold Buddahs



Get more information on the Spirit XE150 and save an additional 3% with coupon code TMSENSEI.


Spirit Elliptical XE150 Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes
Dual Action: Yes
Stride Length: 20"

Flywheel: Approximately 15lbs (listed at 30lbs)
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
Resistance Type: ECB
Resistance Control: Electronic
Resistance Levels: 16
Heart Rate Monitoring: Pulse Grip and Wireless
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 13
Display Type: Single window blue backlit LCD
Special Features: Cooling fans, water bottle/accessory holders
Grade: Home
Dimensions
Product Size: 82"L x 27"W x 67"H
Product Weight: 194 lbs.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Horizon T62 Treadmill Review -- The best budget treadmill on the market

Konichiwa!

Once more, the DOJO has closed, the day's work is done and the Sensei may sit back and relax while he shares his fitness wisdom with the world. Being a fitness service tech, I do a lot of work remanufacturing and repair treadmills, ellipticals and other fitness equipment for gyms, hotels, apartment complexes, stores and other commercial locations. However, about 50% of my work comes when home users have issues with their under warranty treadmills or ellipticals and the manufacturer they purchased their equipment from gives me a call to go out and fix the problems. In other words, I work on literally tons of fitness equipment every week.

Today I had a service call I don't get very often, for a Horizon treadmill, the Horizon T62 treadmill to be precise. I say I don't get the call very often because, in my experience as an authroized service tech for Horizon Fitness equipment, the units just don't break down very often. Most of the time, as was in this particular case, the control board just needed to be adjusted and the T62 was back up and running in minutes.

After arriving back at the DOJO (to find Hiraku fast asleep on a Matrix T5X treadmill, but that is a tale for another day), I just knew I had to sit down and write a quick review about one of the best value treadmills currently available -- that's right, the Horizon T62 treadmill.

I'm going to start off with a bit of a secret for those of you who have spent some time looking at treadmills in brick and mortar stores and only encounted the Horizon Elite series -- the Horizon T62 treadmill (generally available for about $799 online with free inside delivery!) is almost identical to the Horizon Elite 2.2 T Treadmill (which sells for an insane $1199 in most retail stores!). There are some cosmetic and a couple of program difference, but not enough to warrant the $400 difference in price!

Let's start with the Horizon T62's motor. What you get in the unit is a Johnson Tech 2.0 horsepower motor that is bigger and has lower RPMs than anything else in this price range. Where most of the lower end manufacturers have sped up their tiny little motors, the Horizon T62 has a larger motor and runs with bigger magnets to give you more power running at a lower temperature. What that mean is you're getting a motor that is going to last longer, run more consistantly (no slips or speed changes) and give you a better workout all the way around.

The machine itself is surprisingly sturdy for a unit under $1000 and while I'm not sure I'd like Hikaru's 285 pound self run full steam on the unit for long periods, someone 200 pounds or more can run on it with very few or no stability problems. In other words, the Horizon T62 is a sturdy little machine and could be used by a "normal" sized person for running.

Something else that impressed me was the T62's hydraulic folding feature. At first I was a bit suspect of the feature in such a low priced machine, but once I played with it a bit and saw how smoothly it went up and down, I changed my mind. Very well done.

The list of features goes on and on for the T62 Treadmill: giant 2.6" rollers, Horizon's patented Gell Cell shock absorbtion technology to help reduce impact from your workouts, a nice sized 55x20 inch running surface, and a pretty spiffy console with speed and incline controls built right in to the handles so you can make adjustments comfortably while you run.

All in all a very nice machine for those who are looking for a treadmill that won't break the bank but won't break down. The Treadmill Sensei gives the Horizon T62 Treadmill 4 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

Horizon T62 Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 2.0
Motor Make: Johnson Tech.
Motor Rating & Type: Continuous duty DC
Shock Absorption: Yes, 60 durometer GelCell system
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
Folding: Yes, hydraulic assisted
Reversible Deck: No
Maximum Speed: 10 MPH
Maximum Incline: 10%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip
Programs: 6: (5) preset, Manual, intervals, golf course, weight loss, race, and (1) user defined program
Display Type: Blue backlit LCD display
Display Readouts: RPM, watts, time, calories, heart rate, distance, and resistance level
Power Requirements: 110v
Special Features: Built in personal fan
Grade: Residential

Dimensions
Product Size: 76"L x 32.5"W x 53"H
Product Weight: 205 lbs.
Flywheel Weight: 2.2 lbs.
Roller Size: 2.6"
Deck Thickness: .75"
Step Up Height: 6.5"
Running Area: 55" x 20"

Warranty
Frame Warranty: Lifetime
Motor Warranty: 10 year
Parts Warranty: 1 year
Labor Warranty: 1 year

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Fitnex E70 Elliptical Review -- A high class elliptical without a high class price

Ohiyo!

Greetings my students and welcome to another evening here at the DOJO. After 20 years working in fitness equipment repair I've come to thing there is nothing new in the sun I haven't worked on. Last week an elliptical came in which I haven't ever had a chance to work on before. I was giddy as a school girl when the freight truck pulled up and delivered what I now consider to be one of the most underrated elliptical machines available on the market today, the Fitnex E70 elliptical from Fitness Master / Fitnex. I had a heck of a time finding any information at all on the machine online.

The Fitnex E70 elliptical is a sleek, light commercial machine which comes out of the same plant as equipment from Body Solid (a leader in fitness equipment for more than 20 years now) and has the same lifetime parts warranty when used in a residential setting. FOr commercial settings, the E70 elliptical has a 2 year parts, 1 year labor warranty, which is pretty standard for this level of machine.

Since the machine was going to be "stuck" in the DOJO for a week while we waited for a replacement shroud to come in, I decided Hikaru and I would put the Fitnex E70 to the test. I'd only seen the elliptical once before at a fitness industry trade show and thought this might be my only to chance to get my grubby little hands on one!

Not really being in the "testing" business we decided we'd each work out on the machine for at least an hour every day, using a variety of different programs during each work out. The Fitnex E70 we received had the heart rate option so we fiddled with that as well.

After 6 days of hard riding, the Fitnex E70 came through with flying colors. It is easily one of the smoothest ellipticals I've ever been on short of the Matrix E5x series, and was head and shoulders over most other light commercial ellipticals and all home models. Not only does the E70 have one of the nicest elliptical motions, but it is also a tank of a machine. It was heavy, solid and sturdy. Even with Hikaru working his nearly 300 pound frame at the highest setting the Fitnex E70 held fast and didn't budge. The unit had 8 programs, 16 levels of magnetic resistance, and a nice LED monitor which give time, work level, watts, distance, speed, METS, heart rate, and calories in two easy to read screens. On top of that, the Fitnex E70 is one of the snazziest looking ellipticals out there. It's sleek form radiates cool. Yeah, I know that a cool look isn't the best reason to buy an elliptical, but for the Fitnex E70 elliptical it's the icing on the cake. This bad boy would look great in any home or even office setting.

The only downside I saw in this machine was for shorter users. If you're under about 5'6" you might have a bit of a stretch when it comes to using the crosstraining bars. They're a bit short but worked fine for me at 5'8". The elliptical's owner also said he was told by the manufacturer that extension bars were available for the Fitnex E70 which would solve that problem.

To sum up our week's workout, Hikaru and I both feel the Fitnex E70 Elliptical is one of the best feeling machines under about $3500. If you're looking for a Matrix feel but don't want a Matrix price tag, the Fitnex E70 may just be the machine for you. The E70s can be found online for $1999-$2395 with free shipping if you poke around a bit on the internet.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Fitnex E70 Elliptical 4.5 golden buddahs out of 5.

The Treadmill Sensei Gives the Fitnex E70 Elliptical 4.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5.


The Fitnex E70 Elliptical by Fitness Master



Fitnex E70 Elliptical Trainer Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes
Frame Construction: Steel
Dual Action: Yes
Bi-Directional: Yes
Maximum Weight Capacity: 400 lbs.
Belt Drive: Serpentine
Resistance Type: Magnetic
Resistance Control: Electronic
Resistance Levels: 16
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip
Programs: 8
Display Type: Dot matrix LED
Display Readouts: Time, work level, watts, distance, speed, METS, heart rate, and calories
Power Requirements: None, self powered
Assembly Tools: Included
Grade: Light Commercial
Made In: Taiwan

Warranty
Electronics Warranty: 3 year
Parts Warranty: 2 year
Labor Warranty: 1 year
Home Warranty: Lifetime parts warranty for home use

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Spirit Z9 Treadmill Review -- one of the best treadmills under $2000

Ohiyo!

Once more from the depths of the DOJO do I rise. The Sensei is ready once more to hand out pearls of treadmill wisdom.

Tonight I am going to gush a bit about one of my favorite treadmill manufacturers, Spirit, and one of my favorite home treadmills, the Spirit Z9 treadmill. Let's start with a bit of background on Spirit the company. Spirit Treadmills has been around and making some of the best quality residential units for over 25 years now. That makes them one of the oldest treadmill companies out there.

This quality shows in one of the best home treadmills on the market, the Spirit Z9 -- also known as the Cardiostrength 3000 and the Inspire IN400.

A quick aside here. One of the confusing things about Spirit is the fact that they release their units under a number of different names, depending upon where you buy them. Spirit is also the manufacturer of Sole, Smooth and Cardiostrength treadmills...in truth, the Sole, Smooth and Cardiostrength units are just Spirit units with a different label on them! Which is funny when you see other reviewers building up Sole or Smooth at the expensive of Spirit -- when they are the exact same units!! If you've bought a Sole F83, for instance, then you've just bought a Spirit Z500 with a Sole sticker on it. Knowing that is a great thing because you'll then be able to purchase the units from Spirit dealers at a much reduced price over the Soles. There are also matching Sole units (treadmills and ellipticals) for Smooth and Cardiostrength both.

Ok, maybe the aside wasn't all that quick.

Back to the Spirit Z9. This unit, which you'll be able to find for around $1300, comes with some of the best features you'll find in this price range. The unit comes with one of the great Spirit 3.0 horsepower motors and a mind-blowing 30 year warranty. Why I call them "great" is because you're getting a 3 HP rated motor that really is a 3 HP motor. They're strong, durable and run cool even during the longest of work outs. Truth be told, the motor in the Spirit Z9 will probably outlast any treadmill owner...I wish I had a 30 year warranty! That's not even mentioning Spirit Treadmill's 5 year parts / 1 year labor standard warranty.

Next we come to the LED console. Slightly different in design from the Spirit Z100 series (or the comparable Sole units), it still follows along the same lines as Life Fitness and other commercial treadmills in displaying all of your information -- heart rate, speed, incline, program, etc. -- in their own windows. No more do you have to fiddle with hand or console controls to flip through information on a single screen. It's all right in front of you and easy to see. Add to that heart rate control which will adjust your workout automatically to keep you at preset heart rates, and you have a masterpiece of modern treadmill technology.

One of the things about the Spirit Z9 treadmill which impressed me so much I recommended it to not one, not two, but three different sets of in-laws (my wife's parents, brother and uncle), was just how sturdy the Z9 treadmills are. As those of you who have been to the DOJO know, my assistant, Hikaru, is a large boy. He stands nearly 6'2" and weighs in somewhere in the neighborhood of 285 pounds (that's a big neighborhood!). A big boy. Hikaru can jog on a Spirit Z9 and the treadmill does not budge. They are solid and well built. If onyl Hikaru could hold up as well to a workout!

Going over the rest of the specs, the Spirit Z9 treadmill has huge 2.5" rollers, a double-woven two-ply belt, a tough 1" thick deck, 10 programs, 12 mph max speed and 15 degree incline. This machine can handle walking, jogging or even running.

Features and quality make the Spirit Z9 Treadmill one of the best treadmill buys under about $1500.

UPDATE: The Spirit Z9, for some unimaginable reason, has been discontinued by Spirit Fitness. Check out the New Balance 1800 Treadmill as an excellent replacement.

The Treadmill Sensei gives it 4 Golden Buddahs out of 5.


A discontinued unit.

Spirit Z9 Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 3.0 HP
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
Folding: Yes
Maximum Speed: 12 MPH
Maximum Incline: 15%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 10: 5 standard programs, 3 user defined, and 2 heart rate control programs
Display Type: 6 window LED display
Special Features: Quick Touch speed and elevation controls
Grade: Residential

Dimensions
Roller Size: 2.5"
Deck Thickness: 1"
Running Area: 20" x 55"

Warranty
Frame Warranty: Lifetime
Motor Warranty: 30 year
Electronics Warranty: 5 year
Parts Warranty: 5 year
Labor Warranty: 1 year

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Remanufactured Treadmills, Ellipticals and Fitness Equipment -- Why and How to Buy It Without Getting Ripped Off!

Ohiyo!

A few days ago I testified a bit on how to properly choose a home / residential grade treadmill. This time, since it has been a quiet day at the DOJO, I am going to ramble a bit on the ins and outs of remanufactured commercial equipment. This guide can be used not only for cardio equipment like treadmills and ellipticals, but also for strength equipment...although I get more than enough of a strength workout every day lifting and moving heavy treadmills around the DOJO.

Remanufactured equipment (sometimes called refurbised or reconditioned -- it all depends on which company you are dealing with) has taken off quite a bit in the last few years as gym owners and home buyers both have realized they can purchase ultra high quality commercial equipment, in great condition for a fraction of the cost. Most remanufactured equipment with sell for 30-70% off of the original price! If you've ever wanted to have a Precor Elliptical or Life Fitness treadmill in your home, now you can!

The single most confusing thing about remanufactured equipment is just what it means...and what the difference between a remanufactured treadmill, a refurbished treadmill and a reconditioned on is. Unfortunately for buyers and poor service techs like the Treadmill Sensei, there are no industry standard definitions for these terms and what you get will vary from company to company. If you are going to buy remanufactured (or refurbished or whatever) equipment, make sure to ask what a company’s definition of what they are selling you is because you might be surprised at the answer. Some companies will just wipe a unit down, touch up the paint and then send it out the door as "remanufactured." Beware of these companies!

Let’s go over the life of a piece of gym equipment destined for remanufacturing...this is something I do nearly every day for my repair clients so I know of what I speak!

Most larger gym chains lease their equipment instead of buying it. This allows them to trade in their equipment every few years. Once that equipment has been returned the the manufacturer, it is then resold to a remanufacturer (or reseller who then turns the unit over for remanufacturing to someone like your Treadmill Sensei). A quality remanufacturer will then strip the unit down to the frame, sandblast it to remove any traces of rust (a number of less reputible vendors will just paint over rust) and then repaint it using the same high end paint ($250-300/gallon!) used by the manufacturers themselves. We do powder coating here at the DOJO, but the regular repaints can be almost as good. At this point, all wear items are replaced -- bearings, grips, rollers and so on. Diagnostics are then run on the electronics to make sure they are up to snuff and then cleaned up or replaced. On most equipment (treadmills and ellipticals, for example) the majority of problems will, luckily, come in the form of the control board. I say "luckily" because the boards can generally be replaced for $30 or so and take almost no time to reinstall. Also, most structural problems with a treadmill or elliptical will pop up in the first 30-60 days. Once you've made it past that point you should be in the clear and have a fine piece of equipment on your hands.

In my personal experience, and this may be because the DOJO turns out great work, remanufactured units tend to have a much lower rate of problems or defects when done correctly. This is because the treadmills and ellipticals (or strength equipment) are gone over with such a fine tooth comb and service so completely that any defects or problems which might have been missed by the manufacturer are caught and fixed as part of the servicing.

With a little bit of research, going the remanufactured route will allow a smaller fitness facility to compete with larger chains by offering competitive fitness equipment while saving money. In fact, many fitness trainers and gyms are finding they are able to reach a profit much earlier by taking advantage of the lower cost and high reliability of remanufactured equipment.

For home buyers, remanufactured equipment lets you purchase the same high end commercial equipment you work out on at your local gyms for a fraction of the price. And, if you've ever tried to go from working out on a Life Fitness, Matrix, Star Trac or Landice to working out on a crappy Proform machine, you're already familiar with the disappointment a lot of wind up experiencing when they try to make the transition. Buying remanufactured lets you stick with what you know.

A quick tip on where to buy remanufactured equipment: places like American Fitness andBig Fitness
, but the highest quality seems to be coming out of Amazon right now right now. I've seen a number of their Precor 544 and 546 Ellipticals and I've been impressed every time.

Good luck with your purchasing and feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions or comments. The DOJO is always open.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com/

BowFlex Treadmills -- A Review of Pain

Ohiyo!

I've been working on treadmills and fitness equipment for nearly two decades now and, most days, I love what I do. Unfortunately, today was not one of those days. Today was a Bowflex day (A Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill to be exact). You see, Bowflex is my nemesis. Whenever one comes in here at the DOJO I dread it. It's the same kind of dread I get when Mrs. Sensei announces the in-laws are coming over and will be staying not only for dinner but for the week.

The reason I dislike Bowflex treadmills (Bowflex Series 7 and Series 5 both) is because when one comes in it always comes with a headache riding hard behind it. I know what you're thinking to yourself, my students, "But Consumer Reports says the Bowflex Series 7 treadmills are the best thing since sliced bread! How dare you speak ill of something the buyer's bible has placed so high upon a pedastal?"

Well, Consumer Reports is wrong.

There, I said it and I'm not afraid. Let me explain a bit about just how Consumer Reports works. The fitness industry is a very small nice market to the all-knowing editors of the magazine. So small, in fact, that new reviews are really only done about once every one to two years and then just re-edited and rerun. A lot of the products they review are discontinued models. This is because they put word out about 6 weeks in advance of an article being due for any and all treadmills which can be donated (from manufacturers or retailers). Those are the treadmills that get reviewed. Now you know why in an industry with hundreds of models, only the same few are mentioned over and over, good or bad.

If you want a real review of what's out there, get in your car and drive down to your local gyms or sporting good stores and try some out. Either that or do your research online.

Back to the Bowflex (or, as I like to call them, the "Blowfex"). To be fair, their treadmills really aren't that bad. They're a nice mid-range brand. They're a bit sturdier than a Proform or an Epic, but not as sturdy as a Sole or a Horizon, even at the higher price points. They have a lot of plastic in them which tends to get beat up pretty good over the course of even an average workout -- and if you're a hard runner, don't expect these things to last very long.

Other problems include poor motors (smaller motors run at higher RPMs to fool consumers with false Continuous Duty Ratings), lower end warranties considering their price point, high price, poor manufacturing, and a very loud work out...I think every piece of this machine is built to make as much noise as possible.

Now, the biggest problem with buying a Bowflex Series 7 (or Series 5) is if something does go wrong. Their customer support has been some of the worst I've ever tried to deal with. Just try to get in touch with them! It's not an easy job. And, if you do finally reach a live person, actually getting service can be just as difficult. The reason for this is because Bowflex, and its parent company Nautilus, have a horrendous reputation for treatment of their service providers and a lot of techs like me won't take their jobs any more. If they can't even get a tech to agree to pay you a housecall, how do you think they'll be able to get your problem fixed?

Don't even get me started on the evil known as the Treadclimber.

My final analysis on Bowflex units in general is that they'd be great machines at half the price. Don't get stuck paying $1500 for a Bowflex Series 7 treadmill when you can get a much better BodyCraft, Sole or Horizon for the same or less.

So what have we learned today, my pupils? That's right: don't buy Bowflex because they give the sensei a migraine.

Back to the DOJO for me.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com/